I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to every one of you who has gathered here today for the Lusaka Pre-Conference event. This event is a crucial step in the lead-up to the Kigali High-level Health Financing Conference. It is a pleasure to welcome representatives from AUDA-NEPAD, the African Union Commission, and our esteemed partners as we come together in the heart of Zambia.

This gathering is more than just a meeting. It is a testament to our collective commitment to advancing the objectives set forth in the African Leadership Meeting (ALM) declaration on "Investing in Health." This declaration, which was adopted in February 2019, serves as a blueprint for increased domestic health financing in Africa, with the overarching goal of fortifying health systems and realizing Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

In May this year, the Government of Zambia hosted the 2nd National Health Financing Dialogue, marking a pivotal moment in our nation's commitment to expedite the journey towards health financing reforms. As we gather here today, we find ourselves at a critical juncture, meticulously examining our progress in fulfilling these commitments. Our focus is particularly on the pivotal role of the private sector, recognizing it as a key catalyst in the transformative journey of Africa's health architecture.

One of the guiding principles of the ALM-Investing In Health Initiative, is to bring together all key players across the health systems, such as governments, the private sector, civil society, and development partners, to collaboratively tackle the persisting challenges of underinvestment and establish a pathway for harnessing Africa's domestic resources – and ultimately providing quality health for all.

We are pleased to witness the ongoing efforts and the growing momentum dedicated to amplifying the domestic financing agenda and charting a clear pathway for the effective engagement of the private sector. In this pursuit, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we acknowledge that the private sector is not merely a stakeholder but a strategic partner whose involvement is instrumental in achieving our collective vision.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we convene today, our objectives are clear. We aim to share best practices, drawing from the wealth of experiences and lessons learnt. Furthermore, we seek to outline a comprehensive private sector and health financing engagement process. This entails enhancing the coordination of private sector investment in health and identifying priority actions, or "quick wins," for health financing and private sector engagement in the upcoming year.

Our goal is to shape the way forward and lay the groundwork for the broader discussions scheduled for the Kigali Health Financing and Investment Conference in February 2024. We are confident that the collective expertise, dedication, and innovation present in this room will propel us towards achieving our shared vision of a healthier and more resilient Africa.

Once again, I extend my heartfelt welcome to each one of you. May our deliberations be fruitful and our shared commitment to health financing in Africa continue to grow stronger.

Thank you.